Sewing machine



afimmre 2 B924,

H. 0. FLETC ER SEWING MACHINE L E 1 m N u TW m u, N m E n 3 mm A s I m e& J m 6, R I

Filed Nov. 21,

June 24, 1924. 1,498,650

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16' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HENRY D. FLETCHER 'ATronNEY June 24, 1924.1,498,650

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16 Sheets-Sheet l4 INVENTOR HENRY O. FLETCHER.

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- H.O.FLETCHER .SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1919 16 Sheets-Sheet l6WITNESSES:

INVENTOR HENRY O.FLETGHER ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1924,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. FLETCHER, QIE BRIDGEIQBT. CONNECTICUT, .FiSSIGNOR 130 THESINGER MANUFACTURING coiaranr. or at.

CORPORATION- OF SEWING MACHINE.

Application filed. November 21,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY O. FL CHER, acitizen of the United ritates, residing at Bridgeport in the county ofFair-field and tltate of Connecticut, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Sewing Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sewing machines being more particularlydesigned for lock stitch outsole or rapid stitchers for sewing shoes.and provides for improvements in the various sewing instrumentalitiesand combinations 01? such instrumentalities with each other in novelrelationships to produce so perior results.

A novel awl actuating mechanism is provided, the awl being driven by acam on the main cam shaft, the operating connections for giving thepiercing and retracting movement to the awl including improved means forallowing for. the feed motion which is produced by a different cam pathon the same cam disc.

Means is also provided by which the feed may be varied from a pointconvenient to the operator, this means requiring but slight movement toproduce the desired adjustment, thus making it unnecessary for theoperator to remove his hand from the shoe for any considerable timeduring the stitching perat It is also desirable to provide for initiallypositioning the awl with respect to the needle and other stitch forminginstrumentali; ties in setting up the machine or for insert ing a newawl or needle, and the present invention provides means whereby theinitial position of the awl may be very accurately adjusted and in avery simple and expeditious manner.

The present invention providesalso for positively pulling off the threadfrom the wax pot whereby .the thread measurer is released from; thisduty. This construction causes the tension of the thread pulled ofi bythe thread n'ieasurer to be controlled err tirely by the tension devicewithout superposing thereon as has heretofore been the case. tension dueto the wax stripper gland of the wax pot which is of variable amountbeing modified by frequent settings by the operator according to thecondition of the thread and wax. This enables the tension to fierial No.339,637.

be held uniform regardless of variations in the adjustments of any partbeside the tension device.

A. looper mechanism deriving its entire motion from a single doublethrow cam groove is also provided, the looper being caused to lay theloop in the thread finger and the barb of the needle and thereafter totake a position with its eye in line with the thread as it is drawn upby the needle and shuttle hook and thereafter pulled down by thetake-up. to prevent reeving of the thread thereover. The loopermechanism is readily removable and when in position is counterbalancedto hold it in osition and to reduce wear between the cam and its fol=lower.

A. novel means of driving the shuttle is provided together with improvedmeans for insuring the engagement of the shuttle hook with the loop andthe removal of the latter from the needle. This latter means entirelyremoves the loop from the needle in spread condition and thereaftermoves the loop bodily out oi the path of the needle and into the path ofthe shuttle hook. thus insuring positive and certain action. A resilientelement in the shuttle drive also provides against any sudden erking onthe thread as the shuttle hook engages the loop. The shuttle and drivemechanism. together with the thread transfer for removing the loop fromthe needle and presenting it to the shuttle. are held in cooperativerelation by a casing and may be assembled and disassembled as a unitwith relation to other parts of the machine.

Improvements also reside in the presser foot, the take-up. and thethread look. A novel. thread men surer is also provided, which hasprovision by which the position of the locking of the upper and lowerthreads in the work may be adjusted, and which. also measures of? threadin accordance with the thickness of the work being sewed.

Another novel feature of the invention comprises a stop motion by whichthe sewing instrumentalities are arrested at a deter mined point in.their cycle of operations, and thereafter the presser foot is raised andthe thread lock opened by power to facilitate removal of the work fromthe machine.

A selective sliding gear transmission is also provided which may beinterposed in the machine drive at will and by which its ill speed isreduced to anyone of a plurality of speeds each lower than the normalspeed to facilitate sewing about the toe of a shoe.

g A preliminary depression of a treadle serves and combinations of partswill appear from a description of one embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in sec tion of the upper portion ofthe machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 4 is a left hand elevation, the hand wheel being removed and themain shaft shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of a portion of the needle and awlmechanism;

' Fig. 6 is a detail section of a smaller portion of the same mechanism;

' Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the same;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of a portion of the awl actuatingmechanism;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section through the shuttle drivecasing;

Fig. 11 is a plan of the mechanism therein, the casing being removed;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view showing the shuttle drive member and thethread transferrer in front elevation;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 13-13 ofFig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a disassembled perspective of a portion of the shuttle drivemechanism;

Figs. 15 to Y 19 are diagrammatic views showing various relativepositions of the needle, shuttle hook, and thread transferrer;

Fig. 20 is a section through the looper cam and looper on line 2020 ofFig. 21:

Fig. 21 is an elevation of the same parts;

Figs. 22 and 23 are diagrammatic views showing the action of the looperwith relation to the thread finger andneedle;

Fig. 24 is a detail front elevation of the presser foot mechanism;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary cross section of a portion of this mechanism;

Fig. 27 is a rear elevation of the same portion;

Fig. 28 is a top plan of the presser foot mechanism;

Fig. 29 is a side elevation of the same, with parts in section and partsremoved;

Fig. 30 is a detail plan partly in section of a portion of a thread lockand threadmeasurer mechanism;

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary view of the thread measurer and take-up in oneposition;

Fig. 32 is a more complete view showing these and certain otherinstrumentalities in a dii'ferent position;

Fig. 33 is a longitudinal section through the stop mechanism; I

Fig. 34 is a cross section on line 34-34 of Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 is a detail partly in section of a' portion of the samemechanism;

Fig. 36 is a cross section on line 36-36 of Fig. 33;

Fig. 37 is a cross section on line 3737 of Fig. 33; V

Fig. 38 is an end elevation of the stop mechanism F lg. 39 is a partialcross section on the perspective of Fig. 46 is a longitudinal crosssection through the speed-reducing mechanism on' line 46-46 of Fig. 48:

F 47 is a detail of a cam mechanism: Fig. 48 is a horizontal sectionthrough the machine base showing some of the drive mechanism in plan;

F 49 is a cross section through the speed-reducing mechanism along theline 49--49 of Fig. 46; and

Fig. 50 is a cross section along the line 5l')--50 of Fig. 46. I

il ecdle and awl motion.

Z indicates the usual machine head having a cam shaft S mounted forrotationtherein and suitably driven and having the usual hand wheel D onone end. This cam shaft has fixed thereon a series of cam discs A B andC. Extending at the right hand side of the machine head is a bracketmember F. YVithin this bracket member is mounted a slide H adapted formovement transversely of the machine said slide having at its leftextremity an upwardly extending post T.

Extending from the head Z is a bracket K. said bracket K and the post Thaving their free extremities provided with aligned openings in whichare mounted oppositely di-.

rected studs W and K, respectively (see Figs. 5 and 6). Upon the stud Wis mounted the needle sector 4 carrying a hook needle P of the usualform and also serving as a support for the needle guide Pi. Upon thestud X is pivotally mounted the awl sector carrying the awl O. The studX is hollow and provides a guide opening for a pin W projecting iron:the stud W whereby the awl and needle sector are kept in proper alignnent at all times, the parts being so arranged as to permit longitudinalincrement of the and sector for feeding the work. Disc B is suppliedwith a race cam groove in which engages a cam roll 1 whichis carried byan oscillating lever 2, the latter being supported for rocking movementon a shaft 328011 the machine frame. The tree extremity of the lever 2is pivotally connected through a link 3 to an arm formed on the needlesector 4 whereby rotation of the cam disc serves to actuate the needle.Cain disc C has formed therein face .cain groove in w-hicl'i is a roll.5 carried by a reve -1c also rockable on h Shaft .328. The awl sector 7has a rearwardly extending arm .8, the extremity of said arm being insubstantial vertical alignment with the tree extremity of the lever 6,said free extremity of lever 6 being forked to provide spaced apart ears.9, 9?; said ears being provided with aligned openings in which mounteda stud screw 10, on e 'end of which has screw threaded en.- gagementwith the opening in the ear v9. Freely rotatable on the stud 110 is asleeve 11, the .extnemities of which abut against the inner surtaces ofthe ears 9, 9, respectively, said sleeve having projecting from diametrically opposite sides a pair of pivot studs 12, 12?. 13 is a short linkhaving its end 14 enlarged and pnovided with a central opening 1-5,'saidopening being of a diameter slightly greater than that of the sleeve 11.Enlarge merit 14 is provided upon one face with a bearing surface 16terminating in a shoulder 17 and against said bearing surface andshoulder is arranged to be positioned a cover plate 18, screws 19 beingprovided for. se curing said plate in fixed relation against theenlargement portion 14 of the link. The ting surfaces of the parts 14and 18 are provided with co rnpjle nental sem rcircular openings, which,when the plate is in proper position, provide journal openings for thepivot studs 12, 12*. The opposite faces of the parts 14 and 18 are cutor beve-led away as indicated at 20, 21, respectively, whereby to permitthe link 13 to rock lengthwise of studlOby reason of the arrangentientof the pivots 12, 12 carried by sleeve 11 on said stud. The opposite endof the link 13 is provided with an enlarged extremity 14 having abearing surface 16 and a shoulder 17 against which is secured a. coverplate 18, the parts being similar to those already described. The parts14 and 18 are provided with'c-oinpleniental openings forming journalswherein are pivot: ally supported'bearing studs 12 and 1% carried upon asleeve 11 which in turn is mounted for rocking movement on a headed stud10 fixed within the extremity of the a m 8 carr ed y the aw sect r, thedeto lever .6 l 301111". groove said lever being pivoted at .4 upon theupper end Off link 45. The link pivoted at its lower end upon a stud 46,stud extending through aligned openings in a pair of spaced apart plates4'? attached by means of screws, or other suitable devices, to a pair ofposts 49, i0 upstanding from the slide ll (see Figs. 1 and 4). The posts50 are provided with oj ienings in which are mount ed a pair of setscrews 49, 50, respectively, the extremities of d screws being arrangedto bear against the link 45 at opposite sides thereof, opposite stud 44,whereby to adjust the angular position of the link 45 a ut its pivot 46..itdjacent the lower extremity of the lever 38 is a. thin plate or fin51 extending outwardly from the post T, said plate being provided. witha series of openings 52, tor the reception 01" a pair of pins .53, 53said pins passing through the plate and extending into the path of theend of lever 43 adjacent block 42. By means of said pins the limits ofmovements of block within the slot 41, may be adjustahl fixed.

54 is a friction plate arranged to bear against a curved surface 51provided upon the edge of plate 5:31, said. members 54 being supportedupon the end of a slide rod carried within an opening 56 in the lever43. spring 57 serving to press the member 54 againstthe surface 51, thecurv-atrufe oi the latter surface, as well of the slot 41, be ing formedwith the stud 44 as a center.

(Ill 1'? AwZ mechanism operation.

reason of the above arrangement of par. it will be clear that onrotation of cam disc C the rocking movement produced by cam roll 5 onthe lever 6 in a vertical plan will be transmitted through the link tothe awl sector 7 whereby the aw] will have imparted to it the desiredoscillation for penetrating and retracting from the work.

Rotation of the cam disc (I will also rock the lever 38 and through theslot 41 block 42 and lever 43 will impart a sliding movement to theslide member H. is they member H carries the post T, upon which ismounted the aw-l sector, the. latter will have imparted thereto atransverse movement sufficient to feed the work, the universalconnections between the sector and the link '13, and also between thelink 13 and the lever 6, permitting such movement to take place freely.

adjustment of the lever 43, as by means of handle'58, the amount ofmovement of the slide H may be varied at the will of the operator, thestud pins 53, 53 serving to determine such variation of adjustmentwithin fixed limits, and the friction n'iember 54 serving to keep thelever l3 in its proper adjusted position. It should be noted that thefeed finishes at the same point for all ad.- justments of feed length.

By manipulation of the set screws 419 and the position of the pivot 44may be varied, whereby adjusting the position of the slide H, togetherwith the awl sector relatively to the lever 38, this adjustment servingto take care of inaccuracies in the setting of the a wl as well as forslight variations in the mechanisn'i, due to wear.

The handle 58. carried by lever 13 is in a position to be easilymanipulated by the operator, requiring merely an. upward or downwardblow to give the necessary change in adjustment of the feed length, thusrequiring the operator to remove his hand from the work for only a shortperiod.

T bread pull- 0 77 This mechanisn'i is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and32.

Extending rearwardly from the head Z is a bracket which provides abearing 61 for a thread tension roll 62. The bracket at 60 provides aguide 63 in which travels a roller 64C, carried upon a pin 65 fixed inthe lower end of a link 66. The upper end of link 66 ispivoted at 67 tothe forked extremity 68 of a rearward extension 6 of the awl operatinglever 6. 70 is a stud fixed near the lower end of link 66 and provides abearing for a thread. guide roller 71. 7 2 is a. secondary bracketextending from the guide 63 and has fixed therein a pin. 73, havingrotatable thereon a thread engaging roll. 74. As shown in Fig. 32, thethread passes from the. wax pot E over roll 7 1, under roll 71 andaround tension roll 62, thence through the thread lock, the threadmeasurer and the take-up.

The operation of the thread pull-off is follows: In the operation of themachine the link 66 will be moved downwardly. as the awl is retracted.from the work, and as the thread is held in the thread clamp at thistime, roll 71 in passing down the guide 63 and between tension roll 62and guide roll 741 will serve to draw the thread from the sup- Loopermechanism.

This mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 20 to 23, inclusive.

As constructed the looper lever 100 carries at its outer end an angularlooper arm 101, which has at its upper end an offset thread eye 102.Lever 100 is provided at its opposite end with a 'ball103, adapted toengage in a double throw cam groove 104 of substantially circular crosssection in cam disc B. Lever 100' is guided to move in a plane by meansof guides 106 and 106 supported by the frame F of the machine, lever 100being provided with an enlarged portion forming a slide. 107 ei'igagingbetween the guides. A double-forked link 108 7 carried by pin 109 ispivoted to lever 100 at 110, the

fork jaws engaging on either side thereof.

The ball 103' can move transversely to the axis of shaft S by means ofthe pivotalv shown in Fig. 3 the cam groove 104 varies V in thedirection of the axis of shaft S, and as shown in Fig. 20 also variesradially therefrom, whereupon both movements are imparted to ball 103 bya single cam. (lam groove has a lateral opening 104 (Fig. 20) forinsertion and removal of the ball 103, and pin 109 carries a coil spring109 acting to raise link 108 to hold the ball in place, and to relievethe walls of the cam groove from its weight.

The operation of the looper mechanism is as follows: The cam groove 10 1is so cut as to time the operation of the looper with relation to theneedle, in the following manner:--As the awl pierces the work the loopermoves to the position shown in Fig. 22 in a single plane away from theneedle path,

at which time the usual thread finger 111 is positioned to receive thethread As the needle descends the looper follows the path shownsubstantially in the arc of a circle around the needle about 270 orthree fourths of a revolution. Thismotion serves to lay the thread inthethread finger 111 which then draws back and in the barb of the needle asshown in Fig. 28. The needle then begins to retract through the work,carrying the loop of thread with it, the thread. finger moving forwardto deliver thread thereto, and as soon as the needle is out of the waythe loopermoves by an almost radial path to the center of the are it hasbeen describing, to a position directly under the hole in the workthrough which the needle has passed. As the needle further retracts, itis thereforeseen that the thread is pulled up in a straight path throughthe hole in the work, and through the eye of the looper. The looperremains substantially in this position during the taking'of the loop 7from the barb of the needle and the taking thereof by the shuttle hook,the passing of the loop around the shuttle and the action of the take-upin drawing down theloop through

